Table 1. Experiment description.
Test # 1 2 3
Effect probed Feedstock Work station Knife wear
Place name Cuneo Envie Envie
Machine 1 PTH 1200/820 PTH 1200/820 -
Machine 2 - PTH 800/820 PTH 800/820
Cab machine A Truck Truck -
Cab Machine B - Separate Separate
Feedstock A Chestnut logs Chestnut logs Chestnut logs
Feedstock B Poplar branches - -
Knife conditions A New New New
Knife conditions B - - Blunt
Repetitions factor A 9 9 8
Repetitions factor B 13 8 8
The letters A and B refer to the two factors compared in any of the three paired Experiments, i.e. Cab A (truck) vs. Cab B (separate); Feedstock A (chestnut logs) vs. Feedstock B (poplar branches); Knife conditions A (new) vs. Knife condition B (blunt); Marked in bold are the individual factors represented in each column (e.g. Test #1: Effect probed = Feedstock; Feedstock A = Chestnut logs, Feedstock B = Poplar branches; Repetitions for Factor A = 9, for factor B = 13)
Table 2. Comparison between feedstock types (i.e. logs vs. branches).
Exposure parameters Unit Action value Log (n = 9) Branch (n = 13) Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Mean SD Mean SD df1 df2 F p-value
Noise
 LAeq dB(A) 80 81.51 0.12 81.70 0.15 1 20 10.986 0.003**
 LpCpeak dB(C) 135 109.07 0.79 109.05 0.54 1 20 0.005 0.942
Whole-body vibration
 RMSX m s–2 0.50 0.31 0.03 0.29 0.04 1 20 0.362 0.554
 RMSY m s–2 0.50 0.18 0.01 0.18 0.02 1 20 0.13 0.722
 RMSZ m s–2 0.50 0.19 0.01 0.18 0.01 1 20 8.795 0.008**
 RMSVTV m s–2 0.50 0.40 0.04 0.39 0.06 1 20 0.337 0.568
 VDVX m s–1.75 9.1 6.22 0.66 6.13 1.20 1 20 0.018 0.896
 VDVY m s–1.75 9.1 3.43 0.13 3.81 0.89 1 20 0.781 0.387
 VDVZ m s–1.75 9.1 3.38 0.20 3.19 0.19 1 20 5.228 0.033*
 VDVVTV m s–1.75 9.1 7.99 0.83 8.04 1.94 1 20 0.006 0.941
LAeq = A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level in dB(A); LCpeak = C-weighted peak sound pressure level in dB(C); SD = Standard Deviation; df = Degrees of freedom; RMSX,Y,Z = Root mean squared amplitude of the vibration in the X, Y, Z direction; VTV = Vibration total value; VDV X,Y,Z = Vibration dose value in the X,Y,Z direction, VDVVTV = Vibration dose value, total (X, Y and Z directions); * = significant; ** = highly significant
1

Fig. 1. Noise frequency spectrum: logs vs. branches.

Table 3. Comparison between work stations (i.e. truck cab vs. separate cab).
Exposure parameters Unit Action value Truck cab (n = 9) Separate cab (n = 8) Analysis of variance (WELCH)
Mean SD Mean SD df1 df2 F p-value
Noise
 LAeq dB(A) 80 81.51 0.12 81.94 0.73 1 7.309 2.700 0.143
 LpCpeak dB(C) 135 109.07 0.79 122.79 0.81 1 14.651 1250.086 0.000**
Whole-body vibration
 RMSX m s–2 0.50 0.31 0.03 0.59 0.07 1 9.199 68.289 0.000**
 RMSY m s–2 0.50 0.18 0.01 0.59 0.08 1 7.091 111.925 0.000**
 RMSZ m s–2 0.50 0.19 0.01 0.65 0.08 1 7.198 249.636 0.000**
 RMSVTV m s–2 0.50 0.40 0.04 1.06 0.13 1 7.879 181.013 0.000**
 VDVX m s–1.75 9.1 6.22 0.66 12.89 1.73 1 8.802 53.684 0.000**
 VDVY m s–1.75 9.1 3.43 0.13 13.76 2.15 1 7.045 94.122 0.000**
 VDVZ m s–1.75 9.1 3.38 0.20 15.85 2.30 1 7.095 233.411 0.000**
 VDVVTV m s–1.75 9.1 7.99 0.83 25.26 3.67 1 7.641 169.558 0.000**
LAeq = A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level in dB(A); LCpeak = C-weighted peak sound pressure level in dB(C); SD = Standard Deviation; df = Degrees of freedom; RMSX,Y,Z = Root mean squared amplitude of the vibration in the X, Y, Z direction; VTV = Vibration total value; VDV X,Y,Z = Vibration dose value in the X,Y,Z direction, VDVVTV = Vibration dose value, total (X, Y and Z directions) ; * = significant; ** = highly significant
2

Fig. 2. Noise frequency spectrum: separate cab vs. truck cab.

Table 4. Comparison between knife conditions (i.e. new vs. blunt).
Exposure parameters Unit Action value New (n = 8) Blunt (n = 8) Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Mean SD Mean SD df1 df2 F p-value
Noise
 LAeq dB(A) 80 81.94 0.73 83.00 0.42 1 14 17.168 0.001**
 LpCpeak dB(C) 135 122.79 0.81 124.39 2.09 1 14 7.993 0.013*
Whole-body vibration
 RMSX m s–2 0.50 0.59 0.07 0.65 0.05 1 14 2.281 0.153
 RMSY m s–2 0.50 0.59 0.08 0.62 0.07 1 14 0.413 0.531
 RMSZ m s–2 0.50 0.65 0.08 0.68 0.08 1 14 1.937 0.186
 RMSVTV m s–2 0.50 1.06 0.13 1.17 0.10 1 14 1.913 0.188
 VDVX m s–1.75 9.1 12.89 1.73 14.28 1.74 1 14 1.704 0.213
 VDVY m s–1.75 9.1 13.76 2.15 14.67 1.99 1 14 0.388 0.543
 VDVZ m s–1.75 9.1 15.85 2.30 16.47 2.76 1 14 1.902 0.189
 VDVVTV m s–1.75 9.1 25.26 3.67 28.57 3.19 1 14 2.551 0.133
LAeq = A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level in dB(A); LpCpeak = C-weighted peak sound pressure level in dB(C); SD = Standard Deviation; df = Degrees of freedom; RMSX,Y,Z = Root mean squared amplitude of the vibration in the X, Y, Z direction; VTV = Vibration total value; VDV X,Y,Z = Vibration dose value in the X,Y,Z direction, VDVVTV = Vibration dose value, total (X, Y and Z directions) ; * = significant; ** = highly significant
3

Fig. 3. Noise frequency spectrum: new knives vs. blunt knives.